MISSION

Our mission is to work with the community to protect our unique natural resources. We educate our residents on what we can do to maintain and protect our land, water and air, facilitate the adoption of behaviors that will meet those ends, and motivate residents and local businesses to join in the effort.

ABOUT

We host a number of activities and events throughout the year in the community to raise awareness for the environmental issues we face. Join us for cozy winter movie nights tailored to both children and adults, active outdoor family events such as "Clean Up Your Parks Day" each spring or "Rally for the River Eco-Fest" each summer. Check our website for information on recycling in our town or sign your children up for the newly formed middle school environmental club. Each year, we add more fun and educational activities for our community to enjoy.

HISTORY

Although originally established in 1969, in 2016 the Rumson Environmental Commission was a subcommittee of the Shade Tree Commission. It did not have its own mission statement, its membership was the same as the Shade Tree Commission, but there no separate meetings nor was there a separate chairperson.

We set out to build partnerships and collaborations that would help educate the community on what we can do to maintain and protect our unique natural resources in Rumson and beyond. Through our collaboration with the schools, we established an Environmental Club, installed bottle filling stations, created an “Idle Free” campaign and introduced educational programming to educate the kids on the history and importance of our waterways.

Through our collaboration with the DPW and Monmouth County Recycling, we clarified the recycling practices in our community and engaged in outreach on recycling and “No Wipes in the Pipes” campaigns. Through our collaboration with the Rumson Recreation Department, we established an annual “Clean Up Your Parks Day” to bring awareness to single use plastics and recycling. Through our collaboration with Clean Ocean Action, we established an annual environmentally themed family festival to celebrate our two rivers. Modeled after a green fair established in Millburn, NJ that won the 2010 NJ Governors Award for Environmental Excellence, this festival brings together stakeholders from across the Two River area to educate families in our community and beyond. Together with Clean Ocean Action and the Rumson School District, we established community movie nights to teach children and families how to become more sustainable. Through our collaboration with the American Littoral Society, we brought river-focused educational programming the Rumson School district and established a Film+Food for Thought series. Below are some highlights of our accomplishments since 2016.

2016

• Created a mission statement and developed aworking plan;

• Published article in Two River Times.

2017

• Established Forrestdale Environmental Club;

• Established Annual Clean Up Your Parks Day;

• Initiated Rumson School District “Idle Free” Campaign;

• Installed bottle-filling stations in Rumson School District;

• Facilitated Littoral Society collaboration with Rumson School District.

2018

• Created a more detailed website;

• Aided DPW in clarifying recycling practices, created instructional materials, and engaged in community outreach;

• Established annual Family Movie Night “WALL-e” & “Finding Nemo”;

• Assisited DPW with the “No Wipes in the Pipes” campaign materials and outreach;

• Established Annual Rally for the River Eco Fest.

2019

• Established Community Movie Night: “The Oyster Farmers”;

• Maintained annual events and passed resolution to seek Sustainable Jersey certification, Formed Green Team.

2020

• Achieved Bronze status certification from Sustainable Jersey Program.